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Topic Review (Newest First)

04-06-2014 05:55 PM

DTS

We had a pet sitter come in.
I couldn't take any time off from my job. I work in a cardiac cath lab and I work m-f 7-5 sometimes longer.
I started out having the pet sitter come in 2x a day for a half hour each for the first month or so. He was fed and taken out both times. Then I had her come in for an hour at lunch time. He was taken out 2x fed and had some out of his crate time. I did this for about a month or 2.
We then moved to just a half hour visit around lunch time for potty breaks and lunch. Did this for about 2 months
Now at 7 months he goes all day without a pet sitter. I try as get home around 430 or my SO gets home around then the days I have to work late.

04-06-2014 05:37 PM

anitram

The first week we got Hans, one of us worked from home every day.

After that, he has been crated/in an ex-pen (crate connected to the ex pen) for about 9 hours a day while we are at work. A dog walker comes in about 3 hours after I leave, then my Dad pops in 3 hours after that, on his way back from work. They each spend 20 mins with him, playing in the yard or walking him around the block.

My husband lets him out for a pee when he gets up for work, then he sleeps for a bit until I get up. I make sure I have at least 75 mins to spend with him before I go to work. We go to the yard, sometimes for a short walk, play, have a training session, he has his breakfast, etc. So by the time I go to work he's ready for a nap.

He can be a bit insane when we get home from work, so you just need to be prepared for that bundle of energy.

04-06-2014 05:12 PM

burdock87

Bullet is hubby's 5 year old dog. He would not handle being crated well. :/

when I get my pup, I will definitely crate train. I had a cattle dog that my ex and I crate trained, and he was amazing.

Now as far as crating goes, I can't leave the pup crated at home while I'm at work - me and hubby can't get away from work to let her out. So I'm going to try and take her to work with her crate (once I get the pup).

Now...will this confuse her with having her crate at work, and then at home? Or will it just give her a comfortable place that she's familiar with?

04-06-2014 05:08 PM

wyoung2153

Quote:

Originally Posted by gurlonfire2004

I leave my puppy in a crate while I am at work. I have never come home at lunch to let my puppy out. However, my mom or brother (often both) would come home and let her out to go potty and eat. She is still bonded to me, and she considers me "her person". She loves my mom and my brother, but not the way that she loves me.

This is a good idea too.. think a relative could come at lunch and let your pup out? With my female, we had neighbors that came at lunch when I loved 45 min. Away.

DEFINITELY encourage you to crate your puppy. It is an awesome tool and will help in the long run with many things. Not to mwntion save your house and your pup from harmful things. Your puppy will end up liking the crate. When I set Titan's up now he will go right in it and just relax when he wants. It wont ruin the bind. This just gives your pup a safe haven and a place thats jusy his

We can't leave Bullet in the house. He will destroy the trash can (even if empty) and do all sorts of 'naughty' things. Silly boy. We have never left him forever!

This is why you need to use a crate. Leaving a puppy alone outside is a recipe for disaster. Crating during the day is not going to "hurt the bonding period." Most of us here crate during the day even as puppies, and many of us train in sport, etc.

04-06-2014 12:18 PM

burdock87

We can't leave Bullet in the house. He will destroy the trash can (even if empty) and do all sorts of 'naughty' things. Silly boy. We have never left him forever!

04-04-2014 11:58 PM

Ellimaybel

We are fortunate that one of us is always home while the other one is at work. Gunther was not one that took to crates the way other dogs do so actually after having been crated three times when I left he learned to not destroy things. Luckily he never destroyed anything serious so it hasn't been an issue at all when he is left alone. Plus I leave plenty of toys for him to chew on all over the floor when I leave to run errands.

04-04-2014 11:39 PM

gurlonfire2004

I leave my puppy in a crate while I am at work. I have never come home at lunch to let my puppy out. However, my mom or brother (often both) would come home and let her out to go potty and eat. She is still bonded to me, and she considers me "her person". She loves my mom and my brother, but not the way that she loves me.

04-04-2014 07:21 PM

burdock87

I work for an ambulance service, and we don't get 'normal' lunch hours where I could go home. Hubby tries to, but he's an officer, and is frequently swamped with things on the OTHER end of the county. (stupid work interfering with puppy! haha)

If I can't bring my pup to work, maybe my mother in law will let me keep my pup in her front yard. That might work... she's got a fenced front yard and a porch so pup will be out of the sun/weather if she wants to be.

04-04-2014 05:41 PM

DellaWrangler

A couple of ideas:

If you have a yard, put up a sturdy fence and once the pup is big enough, let it outside during the day with some toys (weather permitting). And/or, fence off the basement, or a different designated, puppy-proofed area of the house and let it roam around in there.

Buy a couple of those "intellectually stimulating" food dispensing toys (Kongs, puzzles, what-have-you), to keep them from being bored during the day.

I also work about 20 mins. from home. Start packing a lunch, eat it in the car, and use your lunch hour to come home and play with the pup (40 mins. there and back + 20 mins. or more of play time, if you can come in earlier/stay later at work and your boss is ok with it.)

If you have a friend/relative, that can stop by mid-afternoon and play with the pup, do so. If not, it might be worth looking into one of those pet walking services, if you have them in your area.

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